If Christmas is pagan, should Christians be involved?

Should Christians get involved in supporting or celebrating Christmas? Have you ever heard that argument? Why in the world would Christians want to get involved in something that was really a “pagan holiday,” that we the Church co-opted? So for those critics, I have three points.
Number one: Do you give your kids birthday gifts? You celebrate your kids birthdays, why not celebrate the birth of the Savior? If we’re not going to do it now, when would you decide to do it? That would be a question.
Secondly, in 1st Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, “I became all things to all men, that by all means I may win some.” I can’t think of a time, and I doubt that you could think of a time in the year when there is more focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. Once a year, the world is confronted with the reality of His coming. And I think that’s great!
The third point is in Matthew 16:18,where Jesus said, “On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The idea is not that we are holding out against the world. The idea is that we are assaulting a world and they cannot overwhelm us. They cannot withstand the assault of the Church. The very fact that you and I are here, 2000 years after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, is evidence of that. The world has done everything it can to squash the message, destroy the Word, and intimidate believers. Yet, all around the world today there are those who are singing praise, spreading the Word and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if we co-opt or take over Christmas, that’s what we’re supposed to do. We’re supposed to seize the gates of the enemy. This is why we’re here and why this season is so important.

Gene Cunningham - September 25, 2003

Ezekiel #33

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There's a shepherd over the nation of Israel (Isa 11:11), and He re-gathered the flock on May 14, 1948. Milk is when we continually learn but not apply the knowledge. Meat is to apply what we know (Heb 5:14); the nation in time of Eze, didn't do what God commanded. Failure of the leadership of Israel (Eze 33:1-10). The Shepherd of Israel: (1) In the Old Testament, the Messiah is known as the Shepherd of Israel (Gen 49:24, Psa 80:1). (2) This is He who David spoke in (Psa 23:1). (3) The Shepherd is the source of wisdom teaching. He is the Living Word become flesh (Ecc 12:11). (4) The Messiah will feed His flock like a Shepherd when He comes (Isa 40:11, Jer 31:10). (5) In the coming millennium, the Messiah will reign and David will be Prince Regent under Him (Eze 34:23, Eze 37:24). (6) Previous to the millennium, the Shepherd must be struck down and sheep scattered (Zec 13:7, Mat 26:31). (7) Jesus fulfills the Shepherd role 3 ways: a) The Good Shepherd (Joh 10:10); b) The Great Shepherd (Heb 13:20-21); c) The Chief Shepherd (1Pe 5:4). (8) During the tribulation period there'll be an idol shepherd -- the false prophet (Zec 11:15-17). The shepherds of Israel were feeding themselves, not the flock (Eze 34:1-10). The Messiah will feed the flock (Eze 34:11-16). He'll also judge the sheep (Eze 34:17-24). He'll identify the fat and the lean (i.e., those who seek for themselves and those that don't. (Rom 14:3, Rom 14:10). The nations will know the Christ is God (Eze 34:25-31). These things ought to cause us great introspection — self judgment.

Scripture References: Ezekiel 34:1-10, Genesis 49:24, Ezekiel 34:23, Zechariah 11:15-17, Ezekiel 33:1-10, Ezekiel 34:25-31, Jeremiah 31:10, Hebrews 13:20-21, Hebrews 5:14, Romans 14:10, Isaiah 40:11, John 10:10, Isaiah 11:11, Romans 14:3, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Matthew 26:31, Ezekiel 34:17-24, Psalms 23:1, Zechariah 13:7, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Psalms 80:1, Ezekiel 37:24